Borneo Birding Tour
Borneo Birding Tour Overview – Discover Sabah’s legendary birding sites and search for some of Borneo’s most sought-after endemic species.
Explore the extraordinary birdlife of Sabah on this immersive 15-day Borneo birding tour, visiting some of Malaysian Borneo’s most renowned birding destinations, including Kinabalu Park, Sepilok, Danum Valley and the Kinabatangan River. From montane cloud forests and pristine lowland rainforest to wetlands and riverine habitats, this itinerary offers exceptional opportunities to observe Borneo’s remarkable avian diversity.
Designed for dedicated birders and wildlife enthusiasts, the tour focuses on many of Borneo’s most sought-after endemic species, including Whitehead’s Trogon, Whitehead’s Broadbill, Bulwer’s Pheasant, Bornean Bristlehead, Bornean Peacock-Pheasant and Bornean Ground Cuckoo. These iconic birding locations provide some of the best opportunities to encounter the island’s unique birdlife in its natural habitat.
Beyond birdwatching, guests may also enjoy sightings of Bornean Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys and Bornean Pygmy Elephants, adding to the richness of this wildlife experience. Led by expert local birding guides, this tour offers an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s most rewarding birding destinations.
Let’s go birding in Borneo!
| Safari starts and ends in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Province | Comfortable, mid-range |
| Duration | 15 Days |
| Next group departure date | 3 October 2027 (3 spots left) |
Top Birds
Whitehead’s Trogon, Whitehead’s Broadbill, Whitehead’s Spiderhunter, Bornean Bristlehead, Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Bulwer’s Pheasant, Helmeted Hornbill, Blue-headed Pitta, Great Argus, Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
Top Mammals
Bornean Orangutan, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, Proboscis Monkey, Müller’s Gibbon, Sunda Clouded Leopard, Sunda Colugo, Southern Pig-tailed Macaque, Silvered Leaf Monkey, Bearded Pig, Bornean Yellow Muntjac
Highlights and Top attractions
• Mount Kinabalu & Kinabalu Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its exceptional concentration of endemic birds, mammals, orchids, and carnivorous plants.
•Trus Madi Bulwer’s Pheasant Hide: One of the best places in Borneo to search for the elusive Bulwer’s Pheasant and other sought-after forest specialists.
•Crocker Range National Park: Spectacular montane forest habitat supporting a wealth of Bornean endemic birds and breathtaking mountain scenery.
•Poring Hot Springs & Rainforest Reserve: Productive lowland rainforest offering excellent birding, broadbills, hornbills, kingfishers, and canopy-level wildlife viewing.
•Bornean Peacock-Pheasant Hide: A rare opportunity to search for one of Borneo’s most coveted endemic birds.
•Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve:One of Sabah’s premier wildlife areas, rich in pittas, trogons, hornbills, and rainforest mammals.
•Kinabatangan River: Borneo’s most famous wildlife river, offering exceptional opportunities to see orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, and rare birds.
•Danum Valley Conservation Area: One of the finest remaining tracts of pristine lowland rainforest in Southeast Asia and a global biodiversity hotspot.
Summary of day to day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Arrival in Kota Kinabalu |
| Day 2 | Kota Kinabalu to Tambunan |
| Day 3 | Tambunan to Crocker Range National Park to Kundasang |
| Day 4-5 | Kinabalu Park |
| Day 6 | Kinabalu Park to Poring to Telupid |
| Day 7 | Telupid |
| Day 8 | Telupid – Sepilok |
| Day 9 | Sepilok to Kinabatangan River |
| Day 10 | Kinabatangan River |
| Day 11 | Kinabatangan River to Taliwas Bornean Ground Cuckoo hide |
| Day 12 | Lahad Datu – Danum Valley |
| Day 13-14 | Danum Valley |
| Day 15 | Danum Valley to Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu |